South Jersey hospitals, health officials tracking hepatitis A cluster

Gloucester County health officials are urging folks to get vaccinated for Hepatitis A after a cluster of cases - 8 in the last nine weeks - cropped up in the county.(Photo: Nikki Boliaux)

A cluster of Hepatitis A cases in Gloucester County could be impacting South Jersey's homeless population, health officials reported Friday.

Eight cases of the highly infectious and incurable liver infection were diagnosed by South Jersey hospitals serving Gloucester County in the last nine weeks, the county's Health Department reported Wednesday.

A common source of the infection had not been identified by the department, according to county spokeswoman Deb Sellitto.

The cases — diagnosed since late December — are unconnected and not linked to one area of the county, Sellitto explained.

The New Jersey Department of Health's Communicable Disease Service reported the state is one of several experiencing an increase in Hepatitis A cases among homeless populations.

In South Jersey, health officials have seen spikes in homeless people, particularly those using drugs - living in Camden, Burlington and Gloucester counties, the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services said late Friday.

The sharp increase in cases over a matter of weeks raises concern for Dr. Judith Lightfoot, a Rowan University doctor specializing in infectious diseases.

But, she wouldn't yet call the reports an outbreak.

An outbreak would mean several cases would be reported very close in time to each other and have a common source, Lightfoot explained.

"If we have an outbreak, the health department workers try to interview common index cases to try to find out if they ate at certain restaurants or certain foods," she said.

In January, Cape May County health officials confirmed a case in Ocean City. The patient was an employee at Dunkin Donuts and served customers while infected. The store was closed while health officials investigated. Employees were tested and those whose results whose results showed were not exposed to the virus returned to work at the donut shop when the store reopened.

Sellitto said the eight cases reported by the health department this week were treated at Inspira Health, Jefferson Health and Cooper University hospitals.

Cooper University Hospital officials said it treated one case.

Jefferson Health reported four cases of hepatitis A in February, according to spokeswoman Nicole Pensiero.

The patients were "all hospital inpatients," she said.

Inspira Health treated four more cases since the beginning of the year, according to its spokeswoman Molly Tritt.

By the hospitals' count, total hepatitis A reports in the county stand at nine.

"We are following the guidelines set by the Gloucester County Department of Health and we are cooperating with their investigation," Tritt said of Inspira Health.

The county health department is urging hepatitis A vaccinations for those at increased risk of acquiring the infections and having complications.

Vaccinations are suggested for anyone who has been in contact with someone diagnosed with the virus; the homeless; men who have sex with men; and those using street drugs.

Most children are vaccinated against the virus as babies. Many older adults may not be vaccinated, Lightfoot said.

Diarrhea is an early acute sympton, the doctor said.

Handwashing in restrooms — whether public or at home — is critical in preventing transmission. The virus is most often spread through fecal contamination, according to Lightfoot.